This Southern Tomato Pie is one of my favorite ways to use home-grown summer garden tomatoes. This savory pie is layered with fresh sliced tomatoes, topped with a cheesy herb mayonnaise mixture, and baked to perfection. Serving up a slice is southern hospitality at its finest!
What is Tomato Pie?
It’s exactly that… a pie with tomatoes. Not a pizza, but a pie crust layered with tomatoes and topped with a cheesy herb mayonnaise mixture.
It’s a perfect way to transform fresh tomatoes into a hearty and delicious vegetarian main course. Serve it up with a salad and dinner is done. It also makes for a delicious side dish!
Southern Tomato Pie Ingredients
- Pie crust – To save time, I use a store-bought deep dish pie crust. The crust will need to be baked according to package instructions.
- Tomatoes – You’ll need 5 to 6 medium firm ripe fresh tomatoes (about 1 ¾ pounds). Roma tomatoes can also be used.
- Cheese – A combination of sharp cheddar, mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.
- Herbs and seasonings – Dried dill weed, fresh basil leaves, garlic powder and black pepper.
- Bread crumbs – While not totally necessary, I love the added crunch and texture of topping with panko bread crumbs. Regular bread crumbs can also be used.
How to Prepare
Following is a brief overview of how to prepare – please see the recipe card at the end of this post for full detailed instructions.
- Prepare the tomatoes. Place the sliced tomatoes on a baking sheet lined with paper towels. Sprinkle with salt and allow to drain fluid. Flip the tomato slices after 10 minutes and allow to drain for an additional 10 minutes.
- Layer tomato slices in the pre-baked pie shell (reserve 5 slices for topping).
- Prepare the cheese mixture. Stir together cheeses, mayo, green onions, dill, basil, pepper and garlic powder in a large bowl until combined.
- Assemble the pie. Spread cheese mixture over the tomatoes.
- Top with reserved tomato slices.
- Sprinkle with bread crumbs. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes, or until lightly browned and cheese is melted.
Helpful Tips
- Choose ripe, firm tomatoes without any soft spots or bruises.
- Don’t skip draining the tomatoes! This step is crucial so that your pie does not come out watery.
- Allow the pie to cool for 15 minutes before serving, so that the filling can set.
Storage
Once cooled, wrap tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
More Delicious Tomato Recipes
Southern Tomato Pie
Ingredients
- 1 store-bought deep dish pie crust baked according to package directions
- 5 to 6 medium firm ripe tomatoes about 1 ¾ pounds, sliced ¼ inch thick
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- â…” cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup sliced green onions
- 1 teaspoon dried dill weed
- ¼ cup chopped fresh basil loosely packed
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon panko bread crumbs
Instructions
- Bake pie shell according to package instructions.
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
- Line a large rimmed baking sheet with paper towels (I use 3 layers of paper towels). Place sliced tomatoes in a single layer on paper towels and sprinkle evenly with salt. Allow to drain fluid for 10 minutes. Flip tomato slices and let drain for another 10 minutes. Blot with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
- Layer tomato slices in the baked pie shell. Reserve 5 slices for topping.
- Stir together cheeses, mayonnaise, green onions, dill weed, basil, pepper and garlic powder in a large bowl until combined.
- Spread cheese mixture over tomatoes.
- Top with reserved 5 tomato slices, then sprinkle evenly with bread crumbs.
- Bake for 35 to 45 minutes, or until lightly browned and cheese is melted.*
- Allow to cool for at least 15 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
- *Placing the pie shell on a baking sheet when baking makes it easier to get in and out of the oven!
- Once cooled, cover tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Roma tomatoes can also be used in this recipe.
Nutrition
If provided, nutritional info is a courtesy, is not guaranteed and should only be considered as a guideline.
Originally published July 15, 2012. Updated with new photographs, text and helpful tips June 2021.
This is delicious! It was a long 15 minutes waiting for it to cool!
Thank you Donna, so glad you enjoyed it!
I came across Southern Tomato Pie recipe last year and made 5 of them throughout the summer. Let my cut tomato slices rest for at least 20 to 30 minutes on paper towels. Never had a problem with watery crust. So far this year I’ve made two and both have been watery. I think the freshest and firmer tomatoes would be the best for this recipe. My family loves tomato pie and I will try this version next time. Thanks for the recipe.
This looks delicious! I typically use Just Mayo (vegan, because I can’t have eggs)- do you think it would work here, or is the egg necessary to bind it (sorta like a quiche)? Perhaps if so, a couple flax eggs might work? Thoughts?
Hi Beth, I can’t say for sure because I’ve always used real mayonnaise in this recipe. Please let me know how it turns out if you try it. I hope you enjoy it! 🙂
Amy you have done it again! Can’t wait to make this!
Thanks so much, Casey… hope you enjoy it! 🙂
Oh, oh, oh, Can’t wait to try this! I know it will be just terrific…..
I love your ideas when it comes to eating! Omg…..thanks for all you do!
Thanks so much, Irene… you made my day! Hope you enjoy it as much as I did! 🙂
This is just gorgeous! I’m so sure yours is the very best recipe out there for this classic!
Thanks so much, Valerie! 🙂
Can’t wait to try your Tomato Pie recipe. Have you had trouble with a watery result?
Hi Sue, thanks so much! This pie wasn’t watery… I’ve tried different ways of draining the tomatoes and found that by sprinkling with a little salt, draining for 20 minutes (total) on paper towels, flipping the slices after 10 minutes and blotting them on both sides with paper towels afterwards works to keep it from being watery. I hope you enjoy! 🙂
I’ve got 2 in the oven right now. I bought one a few weeks ago from a local place down east for $16!!! LOL! Thanks for the recipe!
Yay! I hope you enjoy it! My tomatoes from Mama were SUPER juicy; I’m sure she would pass some along to you while they’re going crazy! 🙂
Oh, I would love to have some!